Medical marijuana laws adopted by city council

Ordinances defining medical marijuana cultivation and dispensary sites, and specifying the appropriate zoning required, were adopted this week by the Macomb City Council.

Cultivation sites can only be located in agricultural and manufacturing zones and dispensaries can only be opened in business or light manufacturing zones, and any request would be subject to special use approval. On Monday, Alderman Dave Dorsett said city residents should know aldermen care about the medical marijuana issue, even if they didn't spend much time discussing the Macomb Planning Commission recommendations of the ordinances.

"There's not a lot to discuss," he said. "This is simply reflective of state statute and that's all we can do."

Also this week, aldermen approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Mike Inman to sign a non-exclusive cable television franchise agreement between the city and Colchester-based MTC Communications. MTC will join Comcast of Illinois as a cable television service provider in Macomb.

The city council voted to accept a June activity report from Macomb Police Chief Curt Barker. He said officers received 1,122 calls and made 163 arrests.

Barker's report stated that police overtime averaged slightly more than $28,000 and the city received June revenues of nearly $41,000 in court fines. Uniformed officers worked 561 hours of overtime and investigators worked more than 121 hours, including more than 66 hours involving drug investigations.

There were 27 car accidents reported in June, and police issued 13 tickets. One driver was injured. The police chief wrote that officers spent 491 hours in training during the month.

Dorsett called attention to the fact that the position of downtown development coordinator would soon be vacant, and asked that aldermen revisit duties to be assigned to that person. The alderman has long advocated direct city supervision of the downtown position rather than its current assignment to the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Corporation.

Mayor Mike Inman submitted a proclamation designating next week as Workforce Development Week in Macomb. He said the current set of workforce investment boards around the state helps relate the needs of the local business community to high schools, community colleges, and universities.

"Opportunities and funds are available for individuals to enroll in training programs and services," Inman said.

The mayor said he serves on the Western Illinois Workforce Investment Board, and introduced its director, Blanche Shoup.

"Workforce is a key component to vitality and economic growth in this region." Shoup told aldermen.